Floor-jack.



F. X. MANNING.

FLOOR JACK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 14,1914.

Patented July 28, 1914.

' Snow/W01 THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHOY. WASHINGTON. I)v C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK X. MANNING, OF GATAWISSA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 WILLIAM H. HEMKER, OF CATAWIS SA, MISSOURI.

FLOOR-JACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1914.

Application filed January 14, 1914. Serial No. 812,069.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK X. MANNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Catawissa, in the county of Franklin and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clamping apparatus for use in laying flooring and ceiling boards.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong, durable and highly convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side elevation of clamping apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same in use, Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same, Fig. 8 is an enlarged edge elevation of the apparatus, showing the same removed from the joist, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the same, and, Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a handle or hand grip, upon opposite sides of which are arranged resilient arms or levers 11, connected therewith by means of bolts 12 or the like. The levers 11 are bent outwardly or off-set between their ends, as shown at 13, providing jaws 14:, to the lower ends of which are suitably connected preferably tapered inwardly extending pivot elements 15.

Arranged between the arms or levers 11 is a holding or bracing element or pawl 16, the lower end of which is preferably flattened and tapered, as shown. This holding or bracing element or pawl is provided at its upper end with a curved or hoolcshaped head 1 adjacent the off-set portions 13 thereof, as shown. Connected with this curved or book shaped head, between the ends thereof, is a laterally extending pin or pivot element 18, operating within slightly elongated slots 19 arranged between the arms or levers 11,

13 thereof, uponthe upward movement of the element or pawl 16, for spreading the jaws 1 1, for a purpose to be more fully ex plained.

In the operation of the apparatus, the element or pawl 16 is swung upwardly a suitable distance, whereby the cam 20 engages the arms or levers 11, above and adjacent the oft-set portions 13 thereof, for spreading the jaws 14, subsequently to which said jaws are spaced over the joist, suitably near the flooring or ceiling board to be nailed to the joists. Upon the downward movement of the element or pawl 16, the jaws 14 automatically move inwardly by virtue of the resiliency of the arms or levers 11 whereby the tapered pivot elements 15 will enter the material of the joist, serving to pivot the entire apparatus thereto. If desired the pivot elements may be tapped by a hammer or the like to cause them to further enter the joist. The handle 10 is then swung toward the board or boards, to move them into clamping engagement, the element or pawl now having its lower pointed end engaging the upper edge of the loist, the same serving to hold or brace the entire apparatus against improper movements away from the board or boards being nailed. It is thus seen that the apparatus when set in the proper position to hold the board or boards in place While they are being nailed, will remain in such position without further attention on the part of the operator. The apparatus may be employed in nailing either flooring or ceiling boards, and can not fall from the joist, when properly applied thereto. The apparatus is of extremely simple construction, being formed of very few parts, which results particularly from providing the holding or bracing element or pawl 16 with means for spreading or expanding the aws.

1 It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape,s1ze and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the s ope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my lnvention, I claim 1.- Apparatus of the character described,

com risin a luralit of connected arms having corresponding" ends movable laterally toward and away from each other and provided with pivot means, and a holding.

element pivotally connected with. and arranged between the arms to' engage a joist to brace the apparatus against improper movement and provided with means to slidably engage and" move the ends of't'hearms away? from each other.

2'. f Apparatus of the character described,

' comprising a plurality of connected arms having corresponding. ends movable laterally towa' rd'iand away from each other, pivot means conn'ected'w'ith the arms near the laterallymovable ends thereof, and a holding element arranged" between'f'the arms, pivoted thereto, with oneend adapted to'engage with a' j'o-ist to hold the entire apparatus against improper movement in one direction and its opposlte end provided with an expandin'g cam device to slidably "engage and move the laterally movable ends of the arms outwardly. j

3. Apparatus of the characterdescribed, comprising a plurality of connected arms having corresponding endsmovable laterally towardand away from'each other, pivot means connected with the arms near the laterally movable ends thereof, a holding element arranged between and pi-votally connected with: the arm with one end thereof adapted to be moved into engagement with a "joist to hold the entire apparatus against improper movement in one dlrection, and 1 means to move the laterally movable ends of element. is adapted for engagementwith a.

joist to'hold the entire apparatus against improper movement in one direction, and means connecting the holding element with the resilient arms whereby the formerm'ay be swung with relation to the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture in'presen'ce of two witnesses.

FRANK XFMANWING.

Witnesses:

DANIEL J MAGUrnn, MARTIN P. GnATLEY.

Oopies-oflthla patentlmay be obtained for flveacents each, by addressing: the Commissioner of'Iatents,

' Washington, 1116. 

